Haiwan Chemical selects KBR technology for Chinese phenol and acetone plant

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Haiwan Chemical Co. (Haiwan Chemical) has awarded a technology contract to KBR for a new 320,000-t/y phenol and acetone facility to be built in Dongjiakou Industrial Zone, Qingdao City, Shandong Province, China, as per Apic-online.

Under the terms of the contract, KBR will provide the technology license and basic engineering design, as well as technical and training services to Haiwan Chemical.

"KBR's phenol process has been on the leading edge for more than 60 years and KBR is continuously making innovative technical improvements to maintain its competitiveness," said Gao Zijian, general manager of Haiwan Chemical.

"I believe this phenol plant will be playing an important role in our corporation's progress of industrial transformation and upgrading."

We remind that, as MRC wrote previously, in April 2019, KBR, Inc. announced that it had been awarded a contract by Saudi Aramco for KBR's market-leading Supercritical Solvent Deasphalting (SDA) technology ROSE.
MRC

Index of chemical production in Russia grew by 2.8% in H1 2019

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Russia's output of chemical products rose in June 2019 by 5.5% month on month.
However, production of basic chemicals increased only by 2.8% in the first six months of 2019, according to Rosstat's data.

According to the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, ethylene accounted for the largest increase in production year on year. Thus, 260 ,000 tonnes of ethylene were produced in June, compared to 262,000 tonnes a month earlier.

Thus, 1,578,000 tonnes of this olefin were produced in January-June 2019, up by 3.8% year on year. June production of benzene was 124,000 tonnes, compared to 128,000 tonnes a month earlier. Overall output of this product reached 743,000 tonnes in the first six months of 2019, up by 1.8% year on year.

June production of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) were 110,000 tonnes (100% of the basic substance) versus 107,000 tonnes a month earlier. Overall output of caustic soda totalled 645,000 tonnes over the stated period, compared to 630,500 tonnes a year earlier.

1,920,000 tonnes of mineral fertilizers (in terms of 100% nutrients) were produced in June versus 2,098,000 tonnes a month earlier. Overall, Russian plants produced 12,324,000 tonnes of fertilizers in January-June 2019, up by 2% year on year.

Last month's production of polymers in primary form decreased to 747,000 tonnes, up 3.5% from May. Overall output of polymers in primary form totalled 4,244,000,000 tonnes over the stated period, up by only 3.1% year on year.
MRC

SOCAR Energoresource tenders to sell oil products from Antipinsky refinery

MOSCOW (MRC) -- SOCAR Energoresource LLC is to tender to sell oil products originated from the Antipinsky refinery for loading from Baltic ports in August, industry sources said Reuters.

The buyers are being offered up to 90,000 tonnes of ultra-low sulfur diesel, produced at the Antipinsky refinery, for delivery on Aug. 1-31 via the Baltic Sea ports of Primorsk or Vysotsk, the sources said.

SOCAR Energoresource also plans to sell up to 30,000 tonnes of gasoline AI-80 for delivery in August via the Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga and up to 30,000 tonnes of naphtha for delivery via the Baltic Sea ports Ust-Luga or Vysotsk.

The tenders close on July 22 and results are expected to be announced on July 24.

SOCAR did not respond to a request for comment.

SOCAR Energoresource, a joint venture between Russia’s largest lender, Sberbank, and a group of investors, acquired an 80% stake in the Antipinsky refinery last month.

Russian oil pipeline monopoly Transneft on Thursday resumed oil supplies to the Antipinsky refinery.
MRC

IndianOil launches high-performance lubricants

MOSCOW (MRC) -- IndianOil, the country’s top refiner, has launched two new high-performance grades of its engine oils, according to Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The new engine oils - SERVO SuperMile Plus and SERVOSuperMile were launched by Mr. Gurmeet Singh, Director (Marketing), IndianOil, during a SERVO Stockists Meet held recently.

SERVO SuperMile Plus is high quality synthetic engine oil suited for new generation petrol and diesel cars/SUVs/ MUVs and MPVs. It offers up to 2% fuel economy. The other newly launched grade - SERVO SuperMile - is a premium diesel engine oil suited for all diesel SUVs/MUVs/MPVs. The packs are available in various sizes (1 ltr, 5 ltr and 7 ltr).

"We are happy to bring two superior grades ofSERVO lubricants to our discerning customers who want high performance from their automobiles. These new grades have a special additive chemistry, offer better fuel efficiency and are the best-in-class lubricants. These two premium grades will help consolidate our competitive edge,” Mr. Gurmeet Singh, Director (Marketing) said.

IndianOil's SERVO world-class lubricants are the brand leaders in the lubricants and greases segment in the country. Superbrands India has recognized SERVO as the 'Consumer Superbrand'. With over 1,000 commercial grades and 1,500 formulations encompassing almost every conceivable application, SERVO serves as a one-stop shop for complete lubrication solutions in the automotive, industrial and marine segments. The brand has carved a significant niche in over 30 countries across the globe.

SERVO lubricating oils meet the requirements of all core industrial sectors of India, spanning defence, railways, cement, coal, steel, sugar, power, marine, surface transport, engineering, fertilizers, and more for over five decades.

As MRC informed before, in mid-February 2019, Indian Oil Corp shut half of its 300,000 barrels per day Panipat refinery in northern Haryana state for about a month maintenance.
MRC

SIBUR and Gazprom Neft to develop polypropylene production in Omsk

MOSCOW (MRC) -- SIBUR and Gazprom Neft have consolidated 100% of the authorised capital in Poliom, a polypropylene plant in Omsk. Sibgazpolimer, a joint venture of the two companies, has signed an agreement to acquire a 50% stake in Poliom from the Titan Group, said the company.

After completing all corporate and registration procedures, Sibgazpolimer has become the sole member of Poliom, which is to be operated jointly by Gazprom Neft and SIBUR.

Launched in 2013, Poliom is one of Russia's largest polypropylene facilities. In 2014, Poliom became the basis for a JV of Gazprom Neft (25%), SIBUR (25%) and the Titan Group (50%). Its annual capacity is 218 kt of advanced products with a mix of some 100 grades. It sources propane-propylene fraction, its key feedstock, from Gazprom Neft’s Omsk Refinery, while SIBUR helps distribute its end-products in Russia and the CIS. The facility is certified for compliance with international standards and applies best R&D solutions and technologies to ensure waste-free production. In 2014, Poliom became the basis for a JV of Gazprom Neft (25%), SIBUR (25%) and the Titan Group (50%).

"SIBUR is committed to developing its polymer business as the demand in Russia and all over the world keeps growing ahead of global economy. Thanks to their superior qualities, synthetic materials are well on the way to replace their traditional counterparts, while also offering new opportunities in transportation, healthcare, robotics and other areas. Following the build-up of our stake in Poliom, we will focus on its development in addition to product distribution. SIBUR has unique expertise to expand the facility’s polymer range and meet the demand of various processors through streamlined solutions. I would also like to thank the Titan Group for our long-lasting and successful cooperation," said Sergey Komyshan, SIBUR’s Management Board member and Executive Director.

“Increasing the stake in Poliom is an important milestone in Gazprom Neft’s long-term strategy focused, among other things, on developing the petrochemical production. By integrating oil refining and petrochemical assets into our business, we will be able to use the feedstock from our refineries more efficiently to make high value-added products, while also boosting our competitive edge both domestically and internationally through stronger technology ties with SIBUR,” commented Levan Kadagidze, Head of the Commercial Directorate at Gazprom Neft.

“The Titan Group’s vast expertise in building complex industrial facilities and its technological and organisational excellence have made the Omsk polypropylene plant an enticing and valuable asset for Russia’s majors – Gazprom Neft and SIBUR. Poliom has robust process control systems so its products are fully in line with the standards of the world’s top polymer goods manufacturers. The Titan Group is going to continue developing its industrial assets, one of the projects being production facilities that will increase the hydrocarbon refining depth and produce a range of organic synthesis products with a view to substituting the respective imports. Gazprom Neft and SIBUR are going to remain our strategic partners both on the existing and new projects,” said Mikhail Sutyaginsky, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Titan Group.
MRC